Botswana

Botswana is one of Africa’s last pristine lands and offers its visitors beautiful scenery and prolific big game in equal measure - from the watery paradise of the Okavango Delta, to the shimmering white saltpans of the Makgadikgadi; the majestic baobab trees of the Kalahari or the elephants drinking at dusk from the Chobe river.

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Mauritius

The tropical gardens and infinity pools of chic luxury resorts in Mauritius give way to dazzling sands lapped by azure waters. Holidays to Mauritius offers five star hospitality, a melting pot of cultures and idyllic tropical scenery.

Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is Africa’s largest and most beautiful oasis - an isolated, verdant green paradise with some of the richest wildlife in the world.

Okavango Delta Safari ideas

The Okavango Delta, the jewel of the Kalahari Desert, is Africa’s largest and most beautiful oasis. Picture an isolated, lush green paradise with some of the richest wildlife in the world. This exceedingly beautiful maze of waterways, lagoons and vast grassy plains is home to plenty of wildlife. These include hippo, elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe, wild dog, rare antelope and around 400 bird species.

But superb wildlife is just one of many elements that make the Okavango delta such a special place. There is the brooding quietness of the waterways, the plaintive cry of the fish eagle. Not to mention the malachite kingfisher reflected in the waters and the scent of the water lilies. These sights and sounds stay with you forever.

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Get our 23 page guide to Botswana Safaris - where to go by season, choosing accommodation, reasons to visit

The Okavango Delta is a conundrum. Its crystal clear channels, serene lagoons and palm-lined islands makes it a unique wetland system. Yet it survives on the sands of the vast Kalahari Desert. (See our blog post on why the Okavango Delta floods if you want to know why this happens.)

The source of the Okavango Delta lies in the extremely wet highlands of Angola. From here the river flows south, away from the sea, gathering ever more water until it reaches Botswana. Then the Okavango Delta fans out into a vast, astonishingly luxuriant wilderness. Comprising flood plain and forest, lagoon and large expanses of water. So it is the ideal breeding ground for an incredible diversity of wildlife.

With the influx of the annual flood, the delta’s water levels rise steadily. This occurs from May onwards, with its peak reached in August. Gradually as the spring temperatures heat the land, the waters recede again by late October.

Divided the Okavango Delta into four ‘areas’:

TIP: Try to visit at two different parts of the Okavango Delta

What we like about an Okavango safari is that you can view wildlife in so many ways. On 4×4 game drives or on foot, by boat and of course via the evocative Mokoro trips. Try to stay at two contrasting camps. This allows you to enjoy a range of activities. And experience the full beauty of the Okavango Delta.

The Moremi Game Reserve lodges focus mainly on game drives.

The permanent waters of the Okavango Delta are home to camps with water-based safari activities year round.

Seasonal Water Okavango camps are in areas which are flooded annually. These offer a range of water-safari activities in season. But mainly land-based activities at other times.

Finally we have some ‘mixed activity’ camps with access to permanent water channels. They are able to offer land and water safari activities throughout the year.

Private Concessions in the Okavango Delta

Apart from the Moremi Game Reserve, most of the Okavango Delta is divided up into private concession areas. Each has only one or two safari camps. Thus ensuring exclusivity and tranquillity. These private concessions also allow driving off road (when following big game), night drives and game walks. (But the Moremi has superb game-viewing…)

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